Employment

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that state and local governments added an estimated 274,000 jobs in July 2020, with state governments adding 33,000 jobs and local governments adding 241,000 jobs. July marks the second consecutive month of gains in state and local employment following three consecutive months of decline in which nearly 1.5 million jobs were lost. Since peaking in February 2020, state and local governments have shed nearly 1.2 million jobs, or approximately 6.0 percent of their total.

The BLS identifies approximately 18.7 million employees of state and local government as of July 2020. Local governments, which include most school districts, account for nearly three-quarters of total state and local employment, with state governments accounting for around one-quarter of the total. Overall, state and local employment accounts for approximately 13 percent of the nation's workforce.

The private sector added an estimated 1.5 million jobs in July 2020.

The charts below present the relative changes in state and local government and private sector employment since 2007.

Monthly changes in state and local government
and private sector employment, 2007-2020

Monthly changes in state and local government employment, 2007-2020

Compiled by NASRA based on data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data is sourced from the BLS Current Employment Statistics program, which is a monthly survey of households, businesses, and governments measuring employment, hours, and earnings estimates. The CES survey reference period is the pay period that includes the 12th day of the month. Data are published on a preliminary basis and revised twice before being finalized. 

See more: https://www.bls.gov/ces/